Engine flushing system

ABSTRACT

An engine flushing system that utilizes any fresh water source with a hose, and a quick-connect/disconnect device that when mated with it&#39;s mating piece, locks and allows the water to flow through the system. The free flowing valve becomes air tight when locked together with its mating piece thereby allowing the water to circulate through the system, which is connected to the water intake hose of each outboard motor. When the fresh water source fitting is not inserted in the quick-connect valve piece, the suction created by the outboard motors causes the valve to make an air tight seal and to block the flush systems canal thereby allowing water to circumnavigate and flow through the water cooled hoses in the outboard thus allowing multiple outboard motors to be flushed simultaneously in one single operation.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/733,833 filed Nov. 4, 2005, from which this application takes priority.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This device relates to an engine flushing system utilizing a fresh water source to flush out multiple outboard motors of any kind.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The process of flushing and outboard motor has been around for many years, However most boats these days have multiple motors which cause boaters to constantly switch the hose from one motor to the other. Over time the amount spent flushing motors and the number of operations required to perform these operations cause them to become a grueling task. Every motor manufacturer recommends flushing every outboard motor. Flushing the outboard not only maintains the engines performances, but it saves money for both the boat owner and manufacturer. Within a short period of time boat owners who fail to properly flush their boat, soon realize the consequences, resulting in significant financial consequences.

Though there are many flushing devices on the public market, yet none of these devices can flush multiple outboards, and very few of these devices are utilized on the newer outboards. Flushing outboards has come along way, but there are still many ways to make every boater's flushing experience less time consuming and more effective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With all the devices on the public market, not even one utilizes a single and conveniently located water input valve, with tubes attachable to the cooling device of the outboard. Using a quick connect to attach the fresh water source to the water input valve, which has a free flowing valve eliminating the use of big bulky shut off valves because the water pressure created from the outboard will cause the valve to automatically close eliminating any shut off valves. The present invention is the cleanest looking most convenient and most effective way for all boaters to flush single, dual, triple, or even quad outboards. The invention eliminates all inconveniences because when the boat owner is finished washing down the boat he can connect the fresh water source to an easily accessible and conveniently located input valve and flush all his motors in one operation. There is no hassle and worries about opening and closing valves and it is simple enough for a child to use. Since the system does not utilize multiple valves or have spring-loaded copulated valves, the present invention and its operation make it unique from known flushing devices due to its ability to flush multiple outboards in one simple operation.

One end of the system connects onto any fresh water source. This end is a quick-connect device that when mated with it's mating piece locks and allows the water to flow through the system. The valved quick-connect device when locked together with its mating piece allows the water to circulate through the system. When the fresh water source fitting is not inserted in the quick-connect valve piece, the pressure created by the outboard motors pushes the free flowing valve forward making an air tight seal and blocking the flush systems canal allowing water to circumnavigate and flow through the designed water cooled hoses in the outboard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/PHOTOS

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a typical system connection to three outboard motors;

FIG. 2 is a conceptual representation of the inventive system connected to two outboard motors for flushing the two motors;

FIG. 3 is a conceptual depiction representing a typical quick-disconnect mechanism for the valve portion of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is an example of the hose end fittings and connections that connect to the flushing port on the inside of the motor cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Now referring to the drawings and/or photos wherein the depicted invention is an engine flushing system, generally shown as 100.

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a typical system connection to three outboard motors. As shown in this schematic representation of FIG. 1 and in FIGS. 2-4, hose fittings 7 in FIG. 4 may be included to connect to the outboard motor water intake hose 22 to adapt to the outboards manufactures design. This type of fitting may be needed for motors such as a Mercury Optimax Model outboard motor. However, in some cases they are not used. For example, for a Yamaha or Suzuki motor, other means of connection are used to adapt to its intake. By simply removing piece 7 adapts the device to suite the outboard manufactures design. Pieces 7 are typically attached to the water intake hose 22 on the rear of the outboard motor 20 with water pressure clamps (not shown). Piece 6 will replace piece 7 depending on the outboard manufactures design.

Piece 1 is a threaded hose adaptor that screws onto any fresh water source and has a quick-connect/quick-disconnect configuration for connecting the fresh water source hose 4 to the valve 2. This connection configuration is preferred needed to facilitate the easier insertion and locking of the water supply hose 4 to the valve means 2 thereby allowing the water to flow through the system. Such a connection is well known in the fluid piping industry. Piece 2 is a free flowing valve that becomes air tight when piece 1 is not inserted, thus it allows water to enter when piece 1 is inserted and locked into place because the pressured water is shot into and through the system. It effectively acts as a quick connection spring valve hose adaptor connection system. When piece 1 is not inserted, the pressure created by the outboard motors pushes the free flowing valve in piece 2 forward making an air tight seal and blocking the flush systems canal allowing water to circumnavigate and flow through the designed water cooled hoses in the outboard. Threaded piece 1 includes a water gasket (not shown, but well understood in the art) where the fresh water source screws in, thereby making a water tight seal. For example, piece 2 can be a brass female quick-connect shut-off device such as that made by Orbit Irrigation Products, Inc. of North Salt Lake, Utah, which is made to fit all garden hose connections.

Piece 3 is typically a chrome flush mounted bracket or flange that piece 2 is mounted on. Hoses 5 are typically hoses that are made from material suitable for not marking-up the boat and of a material which can with stand temperature changes and kinks without affecting its purpose. Each hose section carries fresh water to the outboard. Typical size of the hoses 5 is ⅜ inch. Although marine hoses that have heat resistant characteristics are preferred such as marine hydraulic hoses. Piece 6 is typically a pipe thread to hose barb connection such as ¾ inch male pipe thread to ⅜ inch hose barb. Piece 7 is typically a ¾ inch female pipe by 1 inch barb. These latter connected fittings 6 and 7 connect the water intake hoses 22 on the side or back of the outboard 20.

Piece 8 is a fitting connecting the fresh water source which passes through pieces 1, 2, and 3 to the hoses 5. For example, it could be a T-type of fitting where the common tee portion is a ½ inch male pipe threaded end and the other ends are ⅜ inch hose barb connections for mating with hoses 5, which connect to each end of piece 100 to allow water to flow through the hoses and into the outboards. This is merely an example of a fitting that could be used in the present invention.

In the examples shown in the drawings, it presumes that two or three outboard motors are simultaneously being flushed; however, it is merely an example and four or more motors may be flushed simultaneously from a common fresh water source through a common valve 2.

It should be understood that the preceding is merely a detailed description of one or more embodiments of this invention and that numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The preceding description, therefore, is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined only by the claims appended herein and their equivalents. 

1. An engine flushing system for outboard motors comprising: a water supply conduit; means for connecting the water supply conduit to a fresh water supply source; a valve in fluid communication with the water supply conduit, said valve having an inlet port; means for connecting the water supply conduit to the inlet port of said valve; said valve being configured to allow an in-flow of water when the means for connecting the water supply conduit to said valve inlet port is connected and becomes airtight when said means for connecting the water supply conduit to said valve inlet port is disconnected; two or more motor flushing conduits in fluid communication with corresponding outlet ports located at a discharge side of said valve and in fluid communication therewith, each of the two or more flushing conduits being in fluid communication with a respective cooling water inlet port of an outboard motor; and means for mounting said valve to a desired portion of a boat hull such that its inlet port is easily accessible for connecting the water supply conduit, wherein multiple outboard motors may be flushed simultaneously in a single operation.
 2. The engine flushing system according to claim 1, wherein the means for connecting the water supply conduit to the inlet port of said valve is a quick-disconnect self-sealing fitting.
 3. The engine flushing system according to claim 1, wherein the water supply conduit is a flexible hose.
 4. The engine flushing system according to claim 1, wherein the two or more flushing conduits are flexible conduits.
 5. The engine flushing system according to claim 1, wherein the means for mounting said valve to the boat hull portion such that its inlet port is easily accessible for connecting the water supply conduit comprises: a flange fitting that is mechanically connected to said valve discharge side, said flange fitting being in turn used to fasten said valve to the desired portion of the boat hull.
 6. The engine flushing system according to claim 4, wherein the wherein the two or more flushing conduits are made from about ⅜ inch marine hose that is heat resistant and is further made from material that will minimize unwanted marking to the boat. 